Police killer held indefinitely

Det Con Michael Swindells died from a single stab wound

A paranoid schizophrenic will be held indefinitely under the Mental Health Act after killing a police officer.

Det Con Michael Swindells, 44, was fatally stabbed last May, below Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham.

At Birmingham Crown Court, Glaister Earl Butler, 49, was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

An independent inquiry is to examine how Butler was considered suitable to receive care in the community.

After nearly two weeks of evidence, prosecutor Timothy Raggatt QC said the medical evidence was "all one way" and it was their view Butler was suffering from an abnormality of mind at the time of the killing.

There is an enormous amount of concern that someone who, on the face of it, was as dangerous as this man was at large Timothy Raggatt QC, prosecuting From graduate to police killer

Butler had denied murder but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Mr Swindells, a married father-of-one from Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, had been a policeman for 14 years.

Mr Raggatt paid tribute to the 44-year-old West Midlands Police officer's "conspicuous bravery".

But he questioned the wisdom of treating Butler in the community, echoing the apparent concerns of the jury on Wednesday.

The jury asked the judge in a note read to the court: "By what process does a three-person (mental health) tribunal decide if he's safe to be released into the community?"

Glaister Butler failed to take his medication

The judge said it was a "what if?" and "if only?" type of question that many people would raise, but he explained it was not an issue with which the trial was concerned.

Mr Raggatt said on Thursday: "The question the jury asked has been asked many times by those behind me and the police service.

"There is an enormous amount of concern that someone who, on the face of it, was as dangerous as this man was at large in the community.

"We are at a loss to understand how that situation came about."

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Neil Duchar, medical director of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust, said an independent inquiry would be carried out by another local health authority.

'Regular assessment'

Sue Turner, the trust's chief executive, said an internal inquiry would also be carried out to determine what lessons could be learnt for the future.

"The trust is extremely concerned that such a tragedy occurred and involved a person who was receiving mental health care services from the trust," she said.

She said Butler, of Long Acre, Nechells, Birmingham, had been under the trust's care since 1995.

"This means that he was under our care and supervision with regular assessments of his condition being made while he continued to live in the community."

'Terrific courage'

Outside the court, Det Ch Insp Glenn Moss said the family of Mr Swindells were content with the outcome of the trial.

"They accept that Glaister Earl Butler clearly has an illness," he said.

"They are as content as they can be and have asked to bring closure to the situation.

"Detective Constable Swindells demonstrated terrific courage. He was a dedicated and committed officer who did remarkable work in protecting the local community."